Sunshine, Big Crowds and a Star Opening for Bedford Park Festival
'Chiswick's favourite fortnight' kicks off
Festival organiser Torin Douglas introduces Sophie Ellis-Bextor
June 14, 2026
The Bedford Park Festival opened in glorious sunshine on Saturday, drawing large crowds to Acton Green for the first day of its popular Green Days weekend — and marking a jubilant start to what is often described as “Chiswick’s favourite fortnight”. This is the sixtieth time the event has been held.
Singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, who lives close by, performed the honours at 11am, returning to a role she first took on in 2008 and reprised for the festival’s 50th anniversary in 2016. Warm, relaxed and clearly delighted to be back, she told the crowd how deeply rooted her family is in the area.
“Chiswick is such a big part of our lives and it is such a brilliant thing that we have such an incredible community,” she said. “It is absolutely my pleasure to declare the Bedford Park Festival open.” She added that all her “babies” had grown up here — and slipped in a plug for her Four Leaf Coffee venture in Wheelers.
The opening ceremony also featured a moment of reflection and celebration of local artistic heritage. Peter Land, husband of the late Dame Gillian Lynne, came to the stage to speak about their years living on The Avenue in Bedford Park — a period he described as one of the happiest of their lives. Dame Gillian, the legendary choreographer behind Cats and The Phantom of the Opera, is honoured in a new volume of memoir, Gillian Lynne’s Book of Particular Cats, which Land launched at the festival.
Crowds in front of the festival stage
With the sun out and temperatures warm, the Green Days fête quickly filled with families, neighbours and visitors browsing stalls, sampling food and drink, and enjoying performances on the bandstand. The two new Kids Zones — run by The Little Gym Chiswick and Foxes Club — proved especially popular.
The High Roller Tombola attracted long queues throughout the afternoon, with many hoping to win the headline prize: a guided tour of Sanderson’s Chiswick archives at Voysey House, recently visited by the King.
Fine weather is forecast again for the second day of Green Days on Sunday 14 June, when crowds are expected to return for more live music, food, craft stalls and community activities. The traditional open-air Mass on the Green will take place in the morning, with a sermon from the Rt Revd and Rt Hon Lord Chartres, former Bishop of London.
The Church & Community Tent
The festival, organised by St Michael & All Angels Church, raises funds for the church and its chosen charities: The Upper Room in Shepherd’s Bush, the McCabe Educational Trust, and The Mulberry Centre, which is marking its 25th anniversary supporting people affected by cancer.
Beyond the opening weekend, the festival continues until Sunday 28 June with a full programme of concerts, talks, exhibitions, theatre and community events — from a lunchtime organ recital by international organist D’Arcy Trinkwon to the concluding festival mass performed by the Bedford Park Festival Orchestra and Chorus.
Full details of the programme and ticket booking.
This page is sponsored by Rocks Lane who support community initiatives in Chiswick.
